Holding, clamping and retrieving tool



Dec. 23, 1958 T. J. KNlsz-:R 2,865,240

HOLDING. CLAMPING AND RETRIEVING TOOL Filed March 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l w NVENTOR. 7770ma6 J /flzsef' Dec. 23, 1958 T. J. KNlsER HOLDING, CLAMPING AND RETRIEVING TooL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1956 v... mm)

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United States PatentV HOLDING, CLAMPING ANDRETRIEVING TOOL Thomas J.' Kniser, Sacramento, Calif. Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 572,121

4 Claims. (Cl. 81-18) This invention relates to improvements in holding, clamping and retrieving tools and more especially to a tool of the type that is adaptable for use with bolts, nuts, pipe, boards, lumber, hot metals, bricks, tubes, forgings, etc.

The tool can also be used in clamping and holding two boards, etc. together during the gluing process. The tool can also be used for holding metal, bars, sheets, etc. during welding, bolting, riveting or drilling, etc.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a tool that will retrieve inaccessible objects, and clamp or hold articles of ditferent materials while the same are undergoing heating or gluing, and other jobs wherein it is necessary to rigidly hold the article while it is being processed.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view., the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of a tool embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the tool of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the tool of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 16 is used to generally designate a tool embodying the invention.

The tool 10` comprises a tubular handle 11 having an interiorly threaded end 12 which threadably receives the threaded tubular stem 13 of a jaw-mounting yoke 14.

A drawrod or bolt 15 extends through the handle 11 and a bore 23 of the stem 13 of the yoke 14. One end of the drawrod or bolt 15 is threaded as at 16 to receive a draw nut 17 having an internally threaded bore 18 which engages the threaded end 16 of the drawrod 15.

The draw nut 17 has a reduced portion 19 thereon which extends into the handle 11 and a circular recess or groove 26 is provided in the reduced portion 19. Pins 21 and 22, respectively, passing through the handle 11 engage the groove 2t) in the reduced portion 19 to retain the draw nut 17 on the handle 11.

The drawrod or bolt 15 within the bore 23 of the stem 13 is provided with four radially disposed bosses or projections 24 that engage four radially disposed slots or groovesV 25 that communicatewith:the-bore 2?.inither stem.13 of theyoke 14.

Thedrawrod or bolt 15. has an ellipsoid expander 26y the jaws 28 also have substantially arcuate-shapedop positely disposed gripping portions 29.

.Viewing Fig. 5, it will be noted that the portions 27 are also provided with dished grooves 30 where the portions engage the expander 26.

Trunnions 31 extend through the arms of the yoke 14 to be threadably connected at 32 to the portions 27 of the jaws 28. Coil springs 33 positioned on the trunnions 31 engage the jaw portions 27 and the arms of the yoke 14 to maintain the jaw portions 27 in contact with the expander 26. Spring-biased friction pins 34 are mounted in the ends of the `arms of the yoke 14 and engage the trunnions 31, urging the same against inverted V-shaped ridges 35 in the ends of the arms of the yoke 14.

Each of the jaws 28 has a recess 36 that is located centrally of the jaws or intermediate the portions 27 and 29. A trunnion nut 37 is mounted in each of the recesses 36 by trunnion-receivingand-positioning plates 38. The nuts are threaded so as to receive right and lefthand threads on a jaw-adjusting screw 39.

The handle 11 is provided with a knurled portion 40, the draw nut 17 is knurled as at 41 on its exterior surface and the screw 39 has a knurled head 42 all provided for easy manipulation of the rotatable parts of the tool.

To operate the tool the expander 26 is moved to the center of the jaw portions 27, the springs 33 maintaining the jaw portions 27 in contact with the expander. The jaws 2S are opened -or closed `a desired amount by means of the screw 39, and are then placed astride a workpiece. The handle 11 is then held tightly and the draw nut 17 is rotated to pull the expander 26 toward the draw nut 17 and thus spread the portions 27 until sucient pressure has been applied to the workpiece, by resulting pivotal movement of the jaws 28, to tirmly hold the workpiece between the gripping portions 29 of the jaws 28.

The expander 26 has two different diameters by reason of its shape, and thus two possible initial positions, and it can be turned so as to select either position, the size and shape of the work piece determining the selected position. To turn the expander 26 from one position to its alternate position, the jaws 28 are moved apart until the portions 27 will slip off of the expander. The draw nut 27 is then rotated until the bosses 24 leave the slots 25, thus permitting the expander to be turned to the selected positions. T he jaws 28 can swing approximately 240 degrees around the common axis of the tumnions 31 to permit the use of the jaws in inaccessible places.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the tool will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A tool comprising 'a tubular handle, a yoke conneeted to one end of said handle, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally mounted within said yoke, an adjustable screw connecting said jaws in confronting relation to each other, an expander positioned between said jaws, a rod connected to said expander and passing through said handle, and a nut on the end of the rod for drawing said expander outwardly of said jaws upon rotation of said nut.

Patented.. Dem-23, 1958 a handle', mounting means connected to said handle,

gripping jaws mounted within said mounting means, means for adjusting the opening between said jaws, and means extending through said `handle and engaging said jaws to apply pressure to said jaws, saidmounting means' comprising a yoke having a stem that is threadably connectedto said handle.

3. Av tool as in claim 2, wherein trunnion pins are provided formounting said jaws within said yoke.

4. A tool as in claim 2, wherein said means for adjusting the opening between said jaws comprises a trunnion nut mounted in each of said jaws, and a screw that passes through said nuts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Spriggs July 7, Sewall July 9, Hersey Nov. 30, Persson Sept. 13,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 6, 

